Cooling system for metal barrels



March 28, 1939.

E F. LEE

COOLING SYSTEM FOR METAL BARRELS Filed Oct. 26, 1956 Z l 1 6? /e 661 2c 1 664* Zifffffffffffffff f v INVENTOR. 42M 7746251 TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COOLING SYSTEM FOR DIETAL BABRIELS Application October 26, 1936, Serial No. 107,537

3 Claims. (Gl. 220-13) This invention relates to improvements in cooling systems for metal barrels. At the present time there are over a million metal barrels in use in this country which have outer and inner shells spaced from one another but connected by one or more circular flanges or contacts provided intermediately of the length of the barrel to retain the two shells in correct spaced relation. Various means have been devised to provide cooling systems for these barrels, and has usually consisted of coils or other devices mounted within the inner shell. Such arrangements generally necessitate considerable expenditure for their installation, whether they are put in at the time the barrels are made or subsequent thereto. Moreover such arrangements usually involve considerable expense from time to time for maintenance and repairs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cooling system for metal barrels which can either be built into the barrels at very slight additional cost at the time the latter are fabricated, or which may be quickly and cheaply installed in barrels already in use.

.Another object of the invention is to provide such a cooling system for metal barrels wherein the space between the two shells is utilized for the circulation of a cooling medium; wherein the circular flanges or supporting means con- 30 necting the two shells is'sufilciently perforated to permit a ready fiow of the cooling medium from one end of the barrel to the other; and wherein suitable fittings, which are preferably closed when not in use, are provided through the outer 35 shell to receive inlet and outlet connections to a circulating system by which the cooling medium is circulated.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a cooling system wherein neither the fittings furnished in the outer shell nor the plugs or closures therefor in any way interfere with the rolling or handling of the barrels.

Having thus briefly stated some of the major objects and advantages of the invention, I will now proceed to describe its application in detail to two of the more common types of double-walled barrels now incommon use, with the aid of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of one conventional type of double-walled barrel provided with my cooling system, and

Figure 2 is a partial elevation thereof. v

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of another conventional type of double-walled barrel provided with my cooling system, and

Figure 4 is a section on the lines 4-4 of Fig ure 3.

Referring first to the type of double-walled barrel shown in Figure 1. The outer shell consists of two thimble portions l and la the adjacent annular margins of which lie in close proximity to one another and are welded circularly to the outer face of the inner shell 2 substantially centrally of its length, thereby forming two circular and substantially contiguous joints 3. Consequently the chamber 4 confined between the outer shell portion I and the inner shell 2 is entirely separate from the chamber 5 confined between the outer shell portion Ia and thesaid inner shell 2.

Formed circularly around the outer shell portions l and la at substantially equal distances from the joints 3, are outwardly projecting corrugations 6 and 6a respectively. Extending between the corrugations 6 and 6a around a portion of the barrel circumference is a plate? the outer face of which is substantially in the same plane as the outwardly projecting parts of the said corrugations to each of which latter one margin of the said plate is secured. The other margins of the plate l are inwardly flexed and are welded or otherwise secured to the outer shell portions l and Ia and to the joints 3. The plate l is apertured to receive and supportone extremity of a tubular bung collar 8 the other extremity of which extends through and is secured to, the outer shell portions i and la around the joints 3, and the inner shell 2. Thus an intermediate chamber 9 is enclosed between the plate I and the outer shell portions over which it extends around the bung collar 8; The adjacent sides of the corrugations 6 and 6a are sufliciently apertured at I0 and Illa respectively beneath the plate 'I to afford a ready flow of a cooling medium through the intermediate chamber 9 when passing from the chamber 5 to the chamber 4.

Adjacent the upper and lower extremities of the barrel suitable fittings II and I2 are mounted in and project through the outer shell portions I and la respectively for the outlet and inlet of the cooling medium which may be circulated through the chambers 5, 9 and 4 by any preferred equipment. It will be noted that the fittings II and I2 are preferably positioned opposite the transverse portions of the chambers 4 and 5 which extend between the heads 2b and lb of the inner and outer shells respectively, thereby insuring a free flow of the cooling medium to and from the fittings and throughout substantially the entire length of the barrel. I find it desirable to provide means for closing the fittings II and I2 when the barrel is not connected to a circulating system. This may be accomplished in any preferred manner as by removable plugs l3 shown in Figure 1 or by spring closures I3a shown in Figure 3. The 'fittings I I and I2 project sufiiciently into the chambers I and 5 to provide an adequate length of thread with which they are provided internally, but terminate almost flush with the outer face of the outer shell portions in which they are mounted so that they in no wise impede the rolling or handling of the package; and for the same reason the plugs I! or the closures l3a, when in closed position, do not project outwardly to any perceptible extent. The nipples l4 shown mounted in the fittings II and ii in Figure 3 illustrate one means whereby the latter may be connected to a circulating system. 7

The walls of the shells I, la and 2, and of the plate 1 with which the cooling medium comes into contact must be rustproored. This I find can be most satisfactorily and economically accom plished by passing a suitable varnish through the entire cooling space, pouring of! the excess varnish, blowing out the volatile matter liberated by the varnish as it dried, and then baking flie barrels.

It is therefore apparent that only very slight additional cost is involved either in providing my cooling system in barrels during their fabrication, or in equipping barrels already in use with my system. In the latter case the fittings may be readily mounted in the shell portions I and la, and the apertures l0 and Illa may also be easily provided. To do this the side of the plate 1 ad- Jacent the location of the aperture to be formed is cut and turned back as indicated at la, or else the outer side of the corrugation is cut and folded back as indicated at 61). A tool is then inserted through the opening thus formed to make the aperture; and subsequently the folded portions Ta or 6b must be put back into place and welded in position.

Figures 3 and 4 show another type of barrel wherein a central annular outer shell portion lc terminates at both extremities in inwardly stepped annular flanges Id which are welded or otherwise secured around the circumference of the inner shell 20. The ends of the outer shell consist of two identical annular heads lb the inner margins of which are each secured to the central outer shell portion lc adjacent one of its stepped extremities. The inwardly directed portions of the stepped flanges Id thus divide the space between the inner and outer shells into three separate compartments la, 45 and, 5a. These compartments are connected by apertures le formed through the flanges Id so that the cooling medium may flow freely from the fitting |2a through the three compartments 4a, 45 and 5a to the fitting ll.

In this type of barrel two annular corrugations 6d are usually provided around the central portion lc of the outer shell one adjacent each extremity. When it is desired to provide barrels of this type which have already been manufactured with my cooling system I generally form openings through the said corrugations by cutting and bending back portions of the flanges as indicated at 5h through which tools are inserted to form the apertures le after which the flange portions (in are returned to their normal positions and welded or otherwise suitably secured in place.

While in the foregoing I have only made reference to two usual types of double-walled barrels, it will be readily understood that in practically all such barrels circular supporting means extend from the inner to the outer shell which divide the space between the shells into a plurality of disconnected chambers. It is obviously desirable to expose substantiallythe entire inner oneness shell to the cooling medium and it therefore follows that means must be provided to permit a free flow of the cooling medium through the entire space between the shells. Further in order to permit ready handling of the barrel the fittings and the plugs or closures therefor must terminate substantially flush with the outer face of the outer shell.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined shipping, cooling and dispensing container comprising an inner shell and an outer shell spaced from one another, the outer shell being connected to the inner shell intermediately of its length around its entire periphery thereby dividing the space enclosed between the shells into two separate compartments, said outer shell having an inlet opening into one chamber and an outlet opening into the other chamber, a plate mounted marginally and exteriorly upon the outer shell and extending across its connection with the inner shell to define aclosed compartment between said plate and said outer shell, and said outer shell being apertured to provide passage from each chamber into said compartment to permit a flow of cooling liquidfrom the inlet to the outlet.

2. A combined shipping, cooling and dispensing container comprising a closed inner shell to contain a beverage, a closed outer shell surrounding the inner shell whereby an enclosed space is defined between the shells, means providing direct access into the inner shell, said outer shell having an inlet and an outlet therethrough opening into the space between the shells through which a cooling liquid may be circulated from one opening to the other, said outer shell consisting of two thimble portions having substantially contiguous annular margins, the latter being secured around their entire perimeters to the outer periphery of the inner shell whereby the enclosed space is divided into two separate chambers, a plate secured marginally and exteriorly upon both the thimbles and extending across their annular margins whereby an enclosed compartment is formed between said plate and said thimbles, and the latter each being apertured to provide passage from each chamber into said compartment whereby communication is afforded from one chamber to the other for passage of the cooling liquid.

3. A combined shipping, cooling and dispensing container comprising, a closed inner shell to contain a beverage, a closed outer shell consist ing of two thimble portions having their annular margins substantially contiguous to one another and secured around the periphery of the inner shell throughout their entire perimeters whereby two separate enclosed chambers are defined around the inner shell, means providing direct access into the inner shell, said outer shell having an inlet and an outlet opening formed therethrough one entering each chamber, and a plate secured marginallyand exteriorly to both said thimble portions and extending across their annular margins defining a closed compartment between said plate and said thimble portions, both the latter being apertured to provide access from both chambers into the compartment to permit circulation of a cooling liquid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.

EDWARD F. LEE. 

